Description
"It's a close planted block of Pinot Noir on rootstock planted next door to the 1ER Pinot Noir vineyard. Being close planted, the yield per vine is approximately 65% less than the existing vines. This concentrates the fruit on the vine, as it has to ripen less bunches than normal. This is good and bad. In hot years, we find that the fruit ripens too quickly. In this, I mean that the sugars (potential alcohol) surge quickly before the tannins and flavour profile has a chance to ripen properly. The last PSB made was 2018, so I only produce this wine when I think it's up to the standard it should be. It very different to the 1ER Pinot Noir as no whole bunches were used in the ferment. The fruit is destemmed, but not crushed. Fermented in large wooded vessels which is fantastic for retaining heat post ferment. This lets the tannins slowly extract, and provides us with a lot of fine tannin. Tannin is the hallmark of the great wines in the world." - Winemaker Notes
"It’s a darker, more earthy and spicy wine than the 1er, more structure with a distinctly earthy ‘mineral’ character, some pomegranate and a gently sappy side, almost steely and bloody, blood plum and cherry. There’s a dried rose perfume in the mix too. Tannin is graphite and ferrous, and the finish is long, bright and spicy, with some orange peel bitterness. It’s concentrated and powerful, yet still stays frisky and fresh. It’s distinctive and very good. Serious stuff." - 95 Points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
